Wild 3, Coyotes 1

March 29, 2014|Reuters

Wild 3, Coyotes 1: Zach Parise scored a pair of third-period goals as visiting Minnesota rallied to maintain its hold on the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Defenseman Jared Spurgeon scored the go-ahead goal with just over seven minutes to play as the Wild won for only the fourth time in 13 games (4-5-4) to open a three-point lead over Phoenix. Former Coyote Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 23 shots and captain Mikko Koivu notched two assists as Minnesota improved to 6-22-5 when trailing after two periods.

Mikkel Boedker scored the lone goal for the Coyotes, who could have leapfrogged the Wild in the standings with a victory. Thomas Greiss made 27 saves as Phoenix saw its lead over Dallas for the second wild card shaved to one point.

Defenseman Keith Yandle intercepted a pair of clearing attempts with the Coyotes on the power play to set up the opening goal 3:16 into the contest. Captain Shane Doan sent a pass from the right-wing boards that caromed off Boedker and past Bryzgalov.

Minnesota finally broke through and notched the equalizer eight minutes into the third, when Parise buried a wrist shot off a faceoff. Spurgeon put the Wild ahead with 7:03 remaining, hammering a slap shot from the right point past Greiss, before Parise scored into an empty net in the final minute.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Spurgeon has set a career high with 24 points and matched his career best with his fifth goal. ... Wild LW Dany Heatley, who hasn't scored in his last 14 games, was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. ... The Coyotes announced starting G Mike Smith, who hurt a knee in Monday's game against the New York Rangers, will be re-evaluated in a week.